AMD today announced a new way to help consumers select the PC that best meets their needs. Working with retailers and PC manufactures, VISION Technology from AMD breaks the model in how PC benefits are communicated. Rather than the traditional model, which focuses on the technical specifications of individual hardware components, VISION communicates the value of the whole system and demonstrates the combined processing power of both the CPU and GPU to deliver a superior visual experience to mainstream PC users. It emphasizes how an AMD-based PC is optimized for video, digital media and content creation activities. VISION guides the industry past the era of CPU-centric marketing and describes the PC capabilities in terms of what can be enjoyed on the system – see, share, create. This helps consumers to make better informed buying decisions.

“Today’s consumer cares about what they can do with their PC, not what’s inside,” said Nigel Dessau, CMO of AMD. “They want a rich HD and entertainment experience on their PC, delivered by the combined technology of AMD CPUs and GPUs, without having to understand what gigahertz and gigabytes mean. VISION technology from AMD reflects the maturation of marketing in the PC processing industry and communicates the technology in a more meaningful way.”

Notebook PCs with VISION Technology from AMD are expected to be widely available on retail shelves and online during the holiday buying season timed to the release of the Windows 7 operating system from Microsoft. Complementing VISION, Windows 7 supports DirectX 10, Direct X10.1, and Direct X11 for richer 3D detail on games and other media apps, and a Unified Video Decoder to free up the CPU so that users can have a superior visual and more responsive computing experience while converting video for use on hand held devices. This last activity is greatly simplified and much more rapid with the new Drag and Drop feature of Windows 7.

“We are excited for the upcoming launch of Windows 7, when our OEM partners will introduce some exciting new PCs that match our mutual customer’s needs and feedback,” said Mike Ybarra, general manager of Windows Product Management at Microsoft Corp. “Coupled with VISION Technology from AMD, customers can feel confident that the PC they purchase will deliver a rich, tailored PC experience.”

AMD’s 2009 notebook platforms, also announced today, serve as the first proof points for VISION Technology. Mainstream OEM notebooks offered with VISION have next-generation HD graphics technology for rich, vivid HD and Blu-ray video playback, life-like 3D games, brilliant, clear photos, and multi-tasking power for editing photos, music and videos.

For consumers seeking rich PC experiences in a very thin and stylish notebook, innovative ultrathin OEM notebooks with VISION are designed to deliver highly responsive, balanced performance and a superior visual experience at accessible price points. VISION technology contains three levels of increasingly rich PC system capabilities: VISION Basic, VISION Premium, and VISION Ultimate to reflect the different usage patterns of PC consumers: from digital consumption to content creation.

These notebook platforms bring visually-rich experiences to consumers through features such as:

UP to one billion colors for crystal-clear photos and videos,

DirectX 10.1 for smooth, lifelike games,

7.1 audio for pulse-pounding music; and

Blu-ray support for the latest movies.

“We focus our attention on R&D and marketing communications to users that identify themselves with state-of-the-art and innovative products that can simplify life through technology,” said Gianpiero Morbello, Marketing and Branding Corporate Vice President of Acer, Inc. “VISION Technology from AMD represents an innovative PC usage and we are always ready to offer a superior visual experience to our customers for advanced HD video entertainment.”

In the first quarter of 2010, AMD plans to introduce a fourth level, VISION Black, to enable the highest end capabilities sought by enthusiasts, primarily on desktop PCs. Descriptions of the types of activities available at each level will be available in-store and online, so that buyers can align their needs and make the right choice for their preferred experience.

“They want a rich HD and entertainment experience on their PC, delivered by the combined technology of AMD CPUs and GPUs, without having to understand what gigahertz and gigabytes mean.

if you sell pc to the monkeys.... it's ok but how many monkeys are in US? (milions...)

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Huh, but I think that, this will be particularly meaningful in areas of laptops and HTPC. Especially HTPC. I think that this area has been too much left out, left to enthusiast segment. What I mean is that HTPC solutions need to be introduced to mainstream (market) segment. And I think that this is actually a very good start for AMD. And for us all.

this is the type of rating scheme that the average consumer understands and needs. everyone knows what low, medium and high is. I also think this type of branding fits well with AMD's products

for years the CPU has been highly touted and Intel and AMD traded blows back and forth but there isnt really a need for that these days as there is a greater benefit from graphics. AMD has kickass graphics with sufficient CPU performance for everything from basic needs to gaming while Intel is still cranking out garbage IGPs. it seems AMD is finally figuring out how to market this advantage

They look like nVidia's "nvision" logos, only red. So it's more about branding and less about quality products these days. Not nice.

How is this suppose to make things easier? If I buy Ultimate will I get a 4650M, 4770M, 4850M or 4870M? Which one? How much VRAM do I get? What kind of VRAM do I get? is it integrated or discrete? Will it play Crysis? (had to include this last one for the alienated people)

It's not about making things easier for the customer it's all about improving their visibility in the market. Why bother making good products when you can copy branding ideas from the competition? Brilliant!

How is this suppose to make things easier? If I buy Ultimate will I get a 4650M, 4770M, 4850M or 4870M? Which one? How much VRAM do I get? What kind of VRAM do I get? is it integrated or discrete? Will it play Crysis? (had to include this last one for the alienated people)

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If you buy Ultimate I'm definitely sure you won't get a HD4550, wich is a major step up from what we have right now.

They look like nVidia's "nvision" logos, only red. So it's more about branding and less about quality products these days. Not nice.

How is this suppose to make things easier? If I buy Ultimate will I get a 4650M, 4770M, 4850M or 4870M? Which one? How much VRAM do I get? What kind of VRAM do I get? is it integrated or discrete? Will it play Crysis? (had to include this last one for the alienated people)

It's not about making things easier for the customer it's all about improving their visibility in the market. Why bother making good products when you can copy branding ideas from the competition? Brilliant!

And people think lawyers are bad.

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as we used to say in the navy... you are nuking it. you are over analyzing something that is simple. I agree with you that they need to implement this properly by matching the proper hardware to its' respective logo

all of those questions you are asking arent what the average consumer wants to know or even think about- they just want it to work. the fact that you even ask questions like that are an indicator that you are far more familiar with technology so basically you wouldnt be using this branding but rather going over the specs sheet yourself

it is about improving their visibilty by simplifying their product branding

Man, I'm horrified about the way things go. MANY do care about what's inside the PC! I like to look at it, clean it, care for it and dream about the day it will become a virtual interface seamless integrated to me-self Computers are big stuff as they grow faster and (soon nano-level) smaller. We be afraid of the cloud that wanna eat us and people that wanna keep the information to themselves. We be wanting shared information!
PS: I hope I won't see the day when my computer is only a stupid interface to "The Big Cloud" and computer-science becomes like religion, some mystic stuff for the initiated.